“The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.” (John 1:14)
We’ve already discovered, in this first chapter, that John will repeat an important point several times in order to be sure that the Reader gets it. He obviously wants us to know; really know, that the “Word,” “God,” lived as a human here among us. This is the 5th time he’s said it. At first he writes, “In Him was life; life that made sense of human existence.” Then he tells us that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness neither obscures it nor sees it.” This light, “the true light that enlightens every man,” he insists, “was coming into the world.” Once he arrived, John laments, “the world did not know Him.”
This time, however, he writes in shockingly bold language. “The Word became flesh.” We humans can easily spiritualize almost any idea, or concept. Light is ethereal. A sensible life can become the stuff of fiction and beyond believable. But “flesh?” That's material. Flesh is touchable. It can be held. Its embrace can be a treasure. Someone we love has an unmistakable fragrance. They can be seen. The impression of their image or the sound of their voice is a way we know them. “God,” John thunders, “materialized.” He became a “flesh and blood,” a “real live human being.”
Do you believe this?
To believe it is to agree to some rather amazing things. To believe Jesus is God, “in the flesh,” is to agree that we now have a live person living the answer to the question, “What was God thinking?” We have a role model. He is living a life just like we are. By observing Him we know what is most important. Most of His life is ordinary. Because it is we know that our ordinary, everyday life is a big deal to God. We learn how to value every person and the simplest things we encounter in our day-to-day experiences. He shows us how to discover the grand in seemingly mundane things and events. With that we find how the extraordinary is often living, disguised in the ordinary. His unparalleled love demonstrates what “TRUE LOVE,” looks like. Because He loved us tirelessly even though it meant suffering we know why God permits pain. We now know how to deal with conflict. This remarkable Man demonstrates, in the real, highly visible destruction of His own life, how God turns tragedy into triumph.
Nothing can happen to you that God cannot use for your good, or the good of all people for that matter. Above all there is nothing you can experience, no matter how painful or seemingly destructive, that He cannot use to bring glory to Himself and demonstrate, to all who observe, that the "Son of Man" is their Hope. Your “vicarious self” is, through Him, indestructible, and ultimately triumphant!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Vicarious Self 7 ... What Kind of Father is God?
“… born of God.”
If you’re “born of God,” God is your Father.
Sadly this is not “good news” for everyone. It was one of the most painful discoveries of my life to find that “Father,” is not always a pleasant term. For some it’s a reminder of disappointments. “When ya comin’ Home Dad?” the Songwriter pleads, only to hear … again … ”I don’t knows when,” and walk away with the empty promises ringing in his ears, “But we’ll get together then, Son. I know we’ll have a good time then.” Father’s hurt their Children in the name of discipline and training. Daughters have been scarred by men I cannot even call father. So, with this painful awareness gnawing at my heart I have to ask, “What kind of Father is God?”
John’s book reveals an intimately loving companionship between Jesus and His Father. “The Father loves the Son,” he writes, “and has given Him everything.”
But the story which answers the question best is one only Luke chose to tell. We know the story by the title “The Prodigal Son.” Tim Keller, a prominent New York Pastor, suggests that we give more attention to the Father in the story. He’s even written a book about the story titled “The Prodigal God.” His point, in short, is that God lavishes His love on us to such an extent that it might be considered wasteful.
Luke begins the Chapter in which he describes this Father with an observation. “A lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees – religiously rigid men – and Students of religion, were not pleased. Not at all pleased they growled, 'He takes in sinners and eats with them, treating them like old friends.’” In this tense environment Jesus tells 3 stories about “lost things. The 3rd thing that’s lost is a “Son.” Luke’s telling about this Son is in Chapter 15. I highly recommend Tim Keller’s book because of the inspired way in which he explains Jesus portrayal of the Father of this “lost Son.” Despite private and public humiliation by his insolent Son the Father never ceases to love him. When the “man-child” returns Home after wasting his share of the Family wealth the Father abandons all protocol and reinstates him as an heir. He clothes this sorry wreck of humanity in his own finest robe and announces that his “Son” who, by tradition and Family custom had been disowned and was virtually “dead,” “is alive.” A man who deserved to be left reprobate in his own waste was lavishly welcomed and restored.
A second Son, who never once neglected his responsibility, was his Father’s eldest Son. He was proud of his loyalty. He knew he’d proven he was far more deserving than his rabble rousing Brother. When he heard the ruckus and learned what it was all about he was furious. How could this “human vermin,” be so unfairly, unceremoniously restored to the Family. He humiliated his Father by refusing to join the festivities. He would not be party to such frivolity!
But the Father, always gracious, went to him and begged him to join the celebration. “You are always in my heart,” He said. “All that is mine is yours.” The rebel Child and the Son with the superiority syndrome were both loved despite their sin. With genuinely sacrificial love their Father extended Himself and all that He had to them holding nothing back.
This is Christ’s answer to the question, "What kind of Father is God?"
Is your reputation questionable? Or are you pretty sure you’re more deserving of the Father's love than most people? Perhaps you have an inferiority complex and just can’t get over the certainty that you’ve been unfairly treated by a God whom, you’ve determined, is unworthy of your allegiance. Regardless of what makes you undeserving the Father still loves you! Through His lavish, extravagant “Amazing Grace,” He is still inviting you to His Family table. He is offering you a share of Christ’s inheritance. He has “seen fit to offer you His Kingdom.”
You can most certainly be His Child and enjoy every privilege and freedom reserved for Royalty. Believe it’s for real and trust His offer. Let Him make you the person He imagined you could be when He made you. A truly “Vicarious Self.”
If you’re “born of God,” God is your Father.
Sadly this is not “good news” for everyone. It was one of the most painful discoveries of my life to find that “Father,” is not always a pleasant term. For some it’s a reminder of disappointments. “When ya comin’ Home Dad?” the Songwriter pleads, only to hear … again … ”I don’t knows when,” and walk away with the empty promises ringing in his ears, “But we’ll get together then, Son. I know we’ll have a good time then.” Father’s hurt their Children in the name of discipline and training. Daughters have been scarred by men I cannot even call father. So, with this painful awareness gnawing at my heart I have to ask, “What kind of Father is God?”
John’s book reveals an intimately loving companionship between Jesus and His Father. “The Father loves the Son,” he writes, “and has given Him everything.”
But the story which answers the question best is one only Luke chose to tell. We know the story by the title “The Prodigal Son.” Tim Keller, a prominent New York Pastor, suggests that we give more attention to the Father in the story. He’s even written a book about the story titled “The Prodigal God.” His point, in short, is that God lavishes His love on us to such an extent that it might be considered wasteful.
Luke begins the Chapter in which he describes this Father with an observation. “A lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees – religiously rigid men – and Students of religion, were not pleased. Not at all pleased they growled, 'He takes in sinners and eats with them, treating them like old friends.’” In this tense environment Jesus tells 3 stories about “lost things. The 3rd thing that’s lost is a “Son.” Luke’s telling about this Son is in Chapter 15. I highly recommend Tim Keller’s book because of the inspired way in which he explains Jesus portrayal of the Father of this “lost Son.” Despite private and public humiliation by his insolent Son the Father never ceases to love him. When the “man-child” returns Home after wasting his share of the Family wealth the Father abandons all protocol and reinstates him as an heir. He clothes this sorry wreck of humanity in his own finest robe and announces that his “Son” who, by tradition and Family custom had been disowned and was virtually “dead,” “is alive.” A man who deserved to be left reprobate in his own waste was lavishly welcomed and restored.
A second Son, who never once neglected his responsibility, was his Father’s eldest Son. He was proud of his loyalty. He knew he’d proven he was far more deserving than his rabble rousing Brother. When he heard the ruckus and learned what it was all about he was furious. How could this “human vermin,” be so unfairly, unceremoniously restored to the Family. He humiliated his Father by refusing to join the festivities. He would not be party to such frivolity!
But the Father, always gracious, went to him and begged him to join the celebration. “You are always in my heart,” He said. “All that is mine is yours.” The rebel Child and the Son with the superiority syndrome were both loved despite their sin. With genuinely sacrificial love their Father extended Himself and all that He had to them holding nothing back.
This is Christ’s answer to the question, "What kind of Father is God?"
Is your reputation questionable? Or are you pretty sure you’re more deserving of the Father's love than most people? Perhaps you have an inferiority complex and just can’t get over the certainty that you’ve been unfairly treated by a God whom, you’ve determined, is unworthy of your allegiance. Regardless of what makes you undeserving the Father still loves you! Through His lavish, extravagant “Amazing Grace,” He is still inviting you to His Family table. He is offering you a share of Christ’s inheritance. He has “seen fit to offer you His Kingdom.”
You can most certainly be His Child and enjoy every privilege and freedom reserved for Royalty. Believe it’s for real and trust His offer. Let Him make you the person He imagined you could be when He made you. A truly “Vicarious Self.”
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Reliving the Passion ( A Book Review)
Walter Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion: Meditations on the Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus as Recorded in Mark (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1992)
In this necessary book Wangerin, a skilled wordsmith and devout follower of Jesus, leads us through our personal “reliving” of the suffering, death, and resurrection of this unusual man from Nazareth. Wangerin insists it is necessary. It is, after all history’s greatest tragedy. Yet it has become a cosmic triumph. A triumph that does not deliver us from life’s greatest tragedy – our death – is no triumph. We need to see how His awful death overcomes ours. We need to see how our “sin” has brought death upon us and Him. We need, as Wangerin argues, “to see our sorrier selves,” in these events and our need of His “holy self.” We need to see the path He took in life and how this is the way He calls us to walk with Him. We must learn that “it is the experience of genuine grief that prepares for joy.”
And so he guides us, over 41 days, through every nuance of one emotion after another. We wonder at the love of a woman who lavishes costly ointment on the Master. We steal through the streets of Jerusalem with His followers, clandestinely arranging for what would be their final Passover with Him. We see Him betrayed, renounced, falsely condemned, ridiculed, brutalized. We watch Him die. We realize the depth of His resolve as deliberately chooses to taste every drop of the “cup” of pain He is asked to drink. The infinite reach, and deep compassion of His love tears at our hearts. Watching Him die we see clearly, perhaps for the first time, the supremacy of His power.
Wangerin dramatically leads us through all of it, every bit of the story , right to the door of the empty tomb. He does this in 40 stages; “40 devotions” he calls them. They “best fit the forty days that lead to Easter (except the Sundays)” he explains, “as you will be participating in an ancient practice of our Christian Church: observing Lent, examining grace, understanding the crucifixion as the moment of marvelous love and your salvation, and giving God thanks for a resurrection which promises your own in the end.”
For the past several years I have done as Wangerin’s suggested. “Reliving” these days with Jesus has deepened my love for Him. I will continue the practice until I see Him face-to-face and can hear Him tell the story personally.
Thank you , Walter Wangerin, for this inestimably precious gift!
Meet Your True Self ...
One of the things that makes John’s writing believable is his “tell-it-like-it-is” way of saying things. If it was controversial he didn’t try to soften the blows by spinning it to impress the Reader. If Jesus taught that He, and Father God, in company with the Spirit were one and the same person John said so. When things weren’t particularly flattering he refused to cover them with chocolate.
One such heartbreaking truth about Jesus is this. “He came into the world – the world He had created – and the world failed to recognize Him. He came into His own creation, and His own people would not accept Him.” With brutal honesty His best Friend acknowledged that the “Son of Man,” was finally rejected. John doesn’t attempt to explain it away. He doesn’t rush to paint this troubling truth in the brightest possible light, but simply goes on to say that some did, “receive Him.” They “believed He was who He claimed to be.” Some actually chose to do what He said was best for them.
For these believers Christ promised hope. And John was just as straightforward in telling about that as he was in acknowledging the opposition. They would, he said, be given an unusual “power.”
Once again he has to deal with a controversial and potentially confusing truth. He boldly tells it “like-it-is.” "To those who received Him, who believed … He – the Son of Man – gave the 'power' to be 'their true selves;' 'their Child-of-God selves.'" (See John 1 THE MESSAGE)
Of all those whose books about Jesus are included in the Christian Scriptures John is the one who confidently states that those who believe in Jesus are given the “authority” to be “children of God.” They are “born” not by “course of nature nor any impulse or plan of man but of God.”
Despite the mystery that it’s wrapped in John simply tells the truth. And now we know. Our “Vicarious Self” has been given a Divine Nature. We are, “Children of God.” Believing that Jesus is both the “Son of God,” “Son of Man,” we are given the status He enjoys. We are adopted into the Divine Family and given Royal status.
The next time you’re tempted to believe the messages that ring in your head and heart telling you you’re a failure; second class; with no particular purpose and little or no value talk back to that whimpering little voice. Tell it what God says. “You are my Child. I have chosen to welcome you into my Family. I have great plans for you. And, if you’ll trust me, I’ll make sure they’re fulfilled to a degree that will amaze you! Your achievements will be even greater than those of the Son of Man Himself!”
One such heartbreaking truth about Jesus is this. “He came into the world – the world He had created – and the world failed to recognize Him. He came into His own creation, and His own people would not accept Him.” With brutal honesty His best Friend acknowledged that the “Son of Man,” was finally rejected. John doesn’t attempt to explain it away. He doesn’t rush to paint this troubling truth in the brightest possible light, but simply goes on to say that some did, “receive Him.” They “believed He was who He claimed to be.” Some actually chose to do what He said was best for them.
For these believers Christ promised hope. And John was just as straightforward in telling about that as he was in acknowledging the opposition. They would, he said, be given an unusual “power.”
Once again he has to deal with a controversial and potentially confusing truth. He boldly tells it “like-it-is.” "To those who received Him, who believed … He – the Son of Man – gave the 'power' to be 'their true selves;' 'their Child-of-God selves.'" (See John 1 THE MESSAGE)
Of all those whose books about Jesus are included in the Christian Scriptures John is the one who confidently states that those who believe in Jesus are given the “authority” to be “children of God.” They are “born” not by “course of nature nor any impulse or plan of man but of God.”
Despite the mystery that it’s wrapped in John simply tells the truth. And now we know. Our “Vicarious Self” has been given a Divine Nature. We are, “Children of God.” Believing that Jesus is both the “Son of God,” “Son of Man,” we are given the status He enjoys. We are adopted into the Divine Family and given Royal status.
The next time you’re tempted to believe the messages that ring in your head and heart telling you you’re a failure; second class; with no particular purpose and little or no value talk back to that whimpering little voice. Tell it what God says. “You are my Child. I have chosen to welcome you into my Family. I have great plans for you. And, if you’ll trust me, I’ll make sure they’re fulfilled to a degree that will amaze you! Your achievements will be even greater than those of the Son of Man Himself!”
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